The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #48959 Message #3198988
Posted By: Gibb Sahib
31-Jul-11 - 06:32 AM
Thread Name: South Australia:What the hell's a 'Rolling King'?
Subject: RE: What the hell's a 'Rolling King'?
Attempt at...the start of a more systematic look at the evidence....
Earliest published document of the song, to my knowledge:
1888[June 1887] Smith, Laura Alexandrine. _The Music of the Waters_. London: Kegan, Paul, Trench & Co.
Calls it a capstan song.
I give the melody as I got it from a coloured seaman at the “Home,â€쳌 together with a verbatim copy of his verses :â€"
[W/ score - starts with grand chorus. I've parsed the verses, below.]
Solo.â€"South Australia is my native home, Chorus.â€"Heave away! Heave away! Solo.â€"South Australia, &c. Chorus.â€"I am bound to South Australia, Heave away! Heave away! Heave away, you ruler king, I am bound to South Australia.
Solo.â€"There ain't but the one thing grieves my mind, Chorus.â€"Heave, &c. Solo.â€"To leave my dear wife and child behind. Chorus.â€"I am bound, &c.
Solo.â€"I see my wife standing on the quay, The tears do start as she waves to me.
When I am on a foreign shore, I'll think of the wife that I adore.
Those crosses you see at the bottom of the lines, Are only to put me in mind.
As I was standing on the pier, A fair young maid to me appeared.
As I am standing on a foreign shore, I'll drink to the girl that I adore.
For I'll tell you the truth, and I'll tell you no lie, If I don't love that girl I hope I may die.
Liza Lee, she promised me, When I returned she would marry me.
And now I am on a foreign strand, With a glass of whisky in my hand;
And I'll drink a glass to the foreign shore, And one to the girl that I adore.
When I am homeward bound again, My name I'll publish on the main.
With a good ship and a jolly crew, A good captain and chief mate, too,
Now fare thee well, fare thee well, For sweet news to my girl I'll tell.
Note -- and this is important -- that the tune is such that, in the first short chorus, the rhythmic emphasis (first beat of bars) comes not on HEAVE away, HEAVE away, but rather as 'heave a-WAY, heave a-WAY".